Unlock the Knots with Trigger Point Massage

Apr 1, 2014

The body is a matrix of intertwined muscles, joints and tendons. Trigger point therapy taps into the body’s internal web of muscles and tissues to unlock common chronic and injury-related pains caused by tension and stress.

Everybody has trigger points, but whether they’re activated or not can depend on if an area has undergone trauma, stress, overuse or injury. When activated, trigger points can cause widespread pain, tension, irritation and even lack of motion. Applying a moderate to deep pressure to these areas can create a dull, aching feeling to different areas of the body, which is most commonly known as referral pain. This referral pain actually lets therapists know that they are on a trigger point so they can directly address the area and concern.

When you receive trigger point therapy, you may feel tenderness when the therapist applies pressure. But overall, it should be a therapeutic experience where you feel relief after the pressure is applied and the trigger point goes away.

“Trigger point therapy helps eliminate pain, relieve tension and promote a better range of motion,” explains Merrissa Proctor, massage therapist at Elements Acton. “It’s a great tool for all ages and for many issues to unlock an area, but it’s also great to increase circulation and help muscles regain full function. Ultimately, it’s a rehabilitative therapy that provides quick, lasting results.”

Repetitive Movements, Stress Build Knots throughout the Body

Normal people living everyday lives can benefit from the relief provided through trigger point therapy. Performing simple activities like driving in your car for extended periods of time or overdoing it in your daily workout can cause strain and promote the buildup of stress and tension in your muscles.

Doing continuous movement over and over again can irritate tissue, which over time can lead to the development of trigger points. Ultimately, when tissues remain in a contracted state for long periods of time they can harden and create little nodules that therapists can palpitate and actually feel for during a trigger point massage. When these trigger points are addressed and the tension is released, clients can feel instant relief that feeds into long-lasting results.

“When I have a client lay on my table in so much pain and then when the trigger point session is over they get up feeling so much better, those are the best moments of the massage,” shares Ashley Hughes, massage therapist at Elements Chandler West. “When clients realize that they can actually turn their neck in directions they couldn’t before the session, that’s when you see the results of trigger point.”

Trigger Point Provides Quick Results for Releasing Tight Knots

Trigger point therapy encompasses a lot more of the body than most people may realize. This results-driven technique is best for addressing an injury or chronic pain as well as providing pain management solutions for people with beginning to advanced conditions.

“Sometimes it’ll only take one trigger point therapy session to start seeing results. Sometimes it can take a little bit longer,” explains Proctor. “Instead of putting a Band-Aid on a problem, you’re actually going into the problem and fixing it with trigger point.”

Pain is Not the Purpose of Trigger Point Therapy

Many people have the misconception that clients who get trigger point massage have to endure high levels of pain and be sore for days following the massage in order for it to be beneficial. In reality, though, Proctor and Hughes both agree that the purpose of trigger point is not to provide more pain, but to rather reduce pain and heal injuries.

“It shouldn’t be an excruciating painful type of experience where you’re sore and bruised,” explains Hughes. “There can be a little bit of tenderness and discomfort in the spot that you’re digging into, but you shouldn’t be afraid to communicate your personal limits with your therapist. Everyone is different so don’t go into a session feeling like you have to hold your breath and bear down to tolerate the pain.”

For the most effective and enjoyable trigger point massage therapy session, Proctor and Hughes both like to also mix in Swedish and deep tissue massage techniques so clients can enjoy the relaxation of the massage experience coupled with the rehabilitative benefits that trigger point can provide. Proctor advises that you shouldn’t do more than six to 10 trigger points in one session because more than that can be too much for the body to handle.

If you’re looking for full body trigger point work, Proctor also suggests that you do the work over the course of multiple sessions for the best results. And, since the benefits of trigger point last longer than traditional practices, you don’t have to get trigger point every time you go in for a massage. After you’ve released the pain and tension caused by built-up knots in your system, you can use trigger point on an as-needed basis going forward.

“I believe massage is a trade of intuition and there are just therapists who know intuitively where trigger points are without the client telling them where they’re sore,” shares Proctor. “The first step is to find a skilled therapist and slowly work into the modality gradually. You don’t want to just jump into trigger point because it’s a lot for your body to work all of its tissues and fluids at once. When approached properly, trigger point massage is a great way to see that massage can help you relieve pain and lead a better life.”

Share your thoughts, leave a comment!

Comments (8)

Pam on Apr 24, 2016
I tried this on a very painful area inside my left knee. This has been a very painful area with knee pain for 20 years. So I hope it eases the tender area!

Cornelia on Apr 26, 2016
I have many trigger points/ nodules all over my body, particularly the back and legs. In fact, my massage therapist cannot believe it. 2 on my mid-back are near the posterior rib adjoining the vertebral column, in a horizontal plane exactly across from one another. They are unbelievably sensitive. I have long-standing back problems from injuries, MVAs. Will these ever be massaged away? Thank you, Cornelia

Yvette on May 20, 2016
I have sarcoidosis an nodules on my back near my shoulder blade was causing a lot of pain until I received the trigger point deep tissue massage immediate relief.I am very happy

Elizabeth LaDouceur on Sep 04, 2016
I disagree. I think that the reason some therapists don't do intense trigger-point is because...sorry...but because they want to milk their clients. It isn't good for business because the person doesn't have to come back as often giving the therapist money. Also they don't want the client to go through that period of possibly cursing their name if the client doesn't realize that bruising does occur when good,effective work is done. Once the initial tenderness from the massage and possible bruising clears-up, the client gets the picture that it was well worth enduring in the end and is very thankful. I know i personally would rather get rid of the pain sooner than later but perhaps that is a personal preference...that I share with the vast majority of my clients. I have always been the one to go to for serious muscle and spinal imbalance.
Another reason some believe that trigger-point done intensely is not good is because not all therapists are as accurate as I am. Someone pressing hard on the wrong spot is really annoying.
I have bruised myself when massaging me and I wouldn't have had it any other way because inorder to get the pain out and make a fast difference, my personal preference for myself was to feel as much pain as needed to be felt to get the results. It only made sense.
You put out the message that bruising and intense trigger-point is wrong enough times then u create wrong information thT becomes the standard by which everyone is afraid to deviate from. This is wrong. I have been doing my work for over 20 years and I have had great praise with the exception of a few that bought into the believe that bruising and intensity was incorrrect...of course they didn't mention that they felt a hell of alot better after though.

Maria on Oct 07, 2016
Trigger point

Mechelyn Facun on Jan 08, 2017
Please send me the address and telephone number. I want to make an appointment for pressure points massage thank you

Michael W Skatoff on Apr 26, 2017
Looking for a trigger point therapist for my brother who has pain in his right vastus lateralis and can not walk. What techniques do you use, ischemic compression, or other? Thank you.

Deb Pearl on Sep 12, 2017
My friend said she went and got trigger point therapy, and I have never heard of that before, so I decided to look up some information. I didn't know that trigger point therapy helps eliminate pain and helps with range of motion! That's crazy that you can get tension on your trigger points just from simple things like driving in your car. It sounds like trigger point therapy would be a very helpful thing for a lot of people! I will have to give it a try sometime!
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